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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde innovates engagement with supply chain in partnership with SDP

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Procurement and Public Health Departments have announced formal membership of the Supplier Development Programme.

NHSGGC is the largest health board in Scotland and spends £700m with third-party providers.

Building upon the foundation of a successful pilot to begin diversifying its local supply chain, formal membership of the Supplier Development Programme will encourage a wider pool of suppliers, including more local SMEs, to become a part of the NHSGGC supply chain.

Joining the Supplier Development Programme enables the health board to maximise its spend on local, progressive procurement, which in turn will support local employment and keep more wealth in the community.

The partnership will continue to explore how supplier pathways can be enhanced and provide free tendering support to Scotland’s micro, small, medium sized businesses and social enterprises, that want to become a part of NHSGGC’s supply chain.

The Supplier Development Programme will organise a range of tender training, bespoke supplier events, tools, and guidance, to prepare them to bid on future NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde contract opportunities.

Chris Sanderson, NHSGGC Head of Procurement, has been announced as a keynote speaker at Scotland’s national Meet the Buyer event, to be held at the EICC on 17 May 2023.

He is expected to talk about how NHSGGC, as one of Scotland’s largest health and social care bodies, can operate more effectively as an anchor institution and contribute to Scottish Government priorities such as Fair Work First and achieving Net Zero targets, through the commissioning and purchasing of goods and services, with the support of the Supplier Development Programme.

Gillian Cameron, SDP Programme Manager, said:

“As the Supplier Development Programme was born out of Glasgow City Council in 2008, it’s particularly poignant that we welcome NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as the first health board in Scotland to join us.

“NHSGCC is a pioneering leader in being the first health board that officially recognises the benefits and results that local government and other bodies were and continue to have from using the expertise of SDP.

“We look forward to continuing our joint work in identifying and supporting local and diverse suppliers who may have experienced barriers to bidding to consider becoming suppliers to NHSGGC and Scotland’s wider public sector.”

Chris Sanderson, NHSGGC Head of Procurement, said:

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is delighted to be joining the Supplier Development Programme.

"With over £700m procurement spend every year it is vital that we ensure best value and best practice in everything we do.

"By looking at how we promote and advertise Health Board contract opportunities to Scottish SMEs, we hope that we can in turn play a significant part in promoting wider societal benefits."

Businesses can visit www.sdpscotland.co.uk to register for a free account and sign up to upcoming training events with NHSGGC.